More than 25 color guard groups from across the Lowcountry will gather at The Citadel Summerall Chapel in a Massing of the Colors presented by the General Westmoreland chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) and The Citadel. The ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 12. The public is invited to attend.

The ceremony is held to pledge faith in the colors of the United States. It will begin with the procession of colors by local color guard groups including The Citadel Chapel Color Guard and the Washington Light Infantry. The Citadel Band and Pipers will also perform. Vice Admiral David F. Emerson, US Navy (Retired) will be the keynote speaker.

Capt. Watt Jordan USN (Ret.), who is coordinating the Massing of the Colors says, "The Flag of the United States of America is an emblem of our country and symbolic of all that patriotism means. The Massing of the Colors and the service that follows is to honor service to our country and the United States Flag of America-the only sovereign flag."

The Massing of the Colors is a patriotic ceremony dedicated to those who gave their lives to preserve liberty and honor in the United States and to those who have served and continued to serve to ensure its freedom. The first Massing of the Colors ceremony was conducted in 1922 on Armistice Day at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City. Initiated by the Society of the Massing of the Colors, MOWW took over the direction of the ceremony in 1950.